Mahonia founder and owner John Miller began planting our vineyard in 1985. Working closely with vineyard and enology experts, he hand-selected the vines that best suit the volcanic Jory and Nekia soils of our site. The result was an unusually diverse planting ranging from classic Pinot noir selections, such as Pommard, to one of the earliest Oregon plantings of Dijon material, including 113, 114 and 115 for Pinot noir and 76, 95 and 96 for Chardonnay.

The vineyard is trellised using a cordon training system that allows for optimum production and fruit quality. We proactively thin the vineyard to balance yields, aiming for crop levels in the 2.0 – 2.5 tons per acre range. This ensures ripening and flavor development that maximizes the quality of each vintage.

We believe that what is good for the earth is good for great wine, and our definition of profit includes actively supporting many community programs, especially those that benefit children and the environment.

From the beginning, the vineyard has been farmed using sustainable methods to control weeds and pests. We are committed investors in renewable technologies such as solar power and locally produced biodiesel.

Through the years, we have participated in several independent, third-party verification and certification programs such as: LIVE, Salmon-Safe, FoodHub and the Carbon Reduction Challenge